DNP vs VTI
DNP Select Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DNP or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | DNP | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.77% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.00% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 131 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +13.04%Best | +12.95% |
| 1Y Return | +17.76% | +19.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.86% | +20.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.71% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.8%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,497 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 21, 1987 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 8, 2026 (25.3 years).
DNP vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 25.3 years both funds cover.
DNP vs VTI Performance
DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (DNP) is an ETF from Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DNP returned +17.76% while VTI returned +19.17%. Year to date, DNP is up 13.04% versus a gain of 12.95% for VTI.
Over three years, DNP compounded at +10.86% per year against +20.86% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.71% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.07% annualized vs +1.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DNP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 15.3% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -54.8% for DNP and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DNP charges 1.77% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $177 vs $3 annually, a gap of $174 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DNP currently yields 8.00% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 122 holdings in DNP and 2,788 in VTI, totalling 127.3% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 38 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, DNP as of Jan 30, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
38 positions in common, counted across the 122 positions we hold weights for in DNP and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 131 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DNP | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.72% | 0.07% | 3.65% |
| SRESempra | 3.52% | 0.08% | 3.44% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc | 3.40% | 0.04% | 3.36% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 3.18% | 0.08% | 3.10% |
| AEEAmeren Corp. | 3.11% | 0.04% | 3.07% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 2.77% | 0.25% | 2.52% |
| NINisource Inc Preferred Stock Var | 2.98% | 0.03% | 2.95% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 2.89% | 0.03% | 2.86% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 2.88% | 0.03% | 2.85% |
| CMSCms Energy Corp. | 2.66% | 0.03% | 2.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DNP and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DNP or VTI?
DNP has an expense ratio of 1.77% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $174 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DNP or VTI?
Over the past year DNP returned +17.76% vs +19.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), DNP annualized +1.57% vs +8.07% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DNP or VTI?
DNP has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DNP -54.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both DNP and VTI?
DNP and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DNP or VTI?
DNP yields 8.00% while VTI yields 1.07%, so DNP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DNP?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.